Celebrating our alumni as University of Dundee graduates shine at the Study UK Alumni Awards

This year, we celebrate three graduates who reached the finals of the prestigious British Council Study UK Alumni Awards held in Saudi Arabia earlier this month; Nasreen Alshamy (PhD Health Sciences 2023), Mohammed Madadin (Medical Education 2022), and Rasha AlHarthi (Prosthodontics 2016).

The Study UK Alumni Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of alumni and showcase the impact and value of a UK higher education.

Their nominations and selection as finalists stand as a testament to their hard work and dedication to their fields of expertise, and of their higher education experience at the University of Dundee.

Nominated in the Culture and Creativity category, Nasreen expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to represent her alma mater at the awards ceremony.

She said; “I enjoyed attending the Study UK Alumni Awards, and it was an honour to meet His Majesty the Ambassador of the British Embassy in Saudi Arabia. I may not have won, but I am proud to represent the University of Dundee and loved meeting such wonderful people”.

Nasreen is the Assistant Vice Dean for Academic and Education Affairs at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia. Her role involves supervising research projects and she is a key member of the Research Unit addressing gaps in nursing and midwifery.

Mohammed, nominated in the Business and Innovation category, agreed; “It was a fantastic evening. The highlight of the evening was when the HE Ambassador referred to us as the ‘Dundee mafia,’ which brought a smile to everyone’s face. It’s an incredible honour to be recognised for my contributions and journey as an alumnus of the University of Dundee in the field of medical education. I thoroughly enjoyed celebrating this achievement with the remarkable finalists and sharing stories of impact and growth”.

Mohammed, Professor of Forensic Medicine & Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, is a leader in medical education, advancing healthcare training in Saudi Arabia. He has played a key role in shaping national healthcare education through his work with various key institutions.

Rasha is Vice Dean of Research, Innovation & Business and Head of Prosthodontics Division at the Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University in Saudi Arabia. She is an academic leader and advocate for change in education and healthcare, also expressing her pride in being a finalist; “I’m truly honoured to be a finalist for the Study UK Alumni Awards and proud to represent the University of Dundee.” She was nominated in the Social Action category.

Several distinguished guests were in attendance at the awards ceremony, and graduates were welcomed by a judging panel comprised of experts with extensive international experience in education, entrepreneurship, and national policy.

The University of Dundee has and will continue to be dedicated to nurturing talent and fostering a sense of belonging among students from all backgrounds and our alumni community is a testament to the strong relationships built and impactful experience gained during a higher education experience at the University.

The success of Mohammed, Nasreen, and Rasha serves as an inspiration to current and future students, and the University of Dundee is proud to be a part of their stories.